Garment stretcher



Dec. 30, 1930. L. w. PEEBLES 1,787,165

GARMENT STRETGHER Filed May 9, 1929 7 o 8 O "l l- 1 INVENTOR, low/.98WPeeb/e ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 30,. 1930 I hire LOUISE W. PEEBLES, OFHAWTHORNE, NEXV JERSEY GARMENT STRETCI-IER Application filed May 9,

This invention relates to garment stretchers of the class embodying aplurality of longitudinal members and folding and lengthwise extensibleand collapsible links connecting them, whereby garments or otherarticles of various shapes and sizes may be stretched transversely ofsaid members and when the stretcher is not in use, it may be folded intovery small m compass. hat I contemplate by this invention is to providein such a stretcher for stretching of an article longitudinally of saidmembers as well as transversely thereof, whatever the size or form ofthe article and while still preserving the stretcher capable of foldinginto small compass when not in use. Further, the object is to providethe stretcher with a simple attachment whereby the sleeves of a garment,of whatever size and shape, may be stretched at the same time that thegarment itself is stretched.

In the drawing, Figs. 1, 2 and 8 show the stretcher more or lessextended and with the parts properly arranged to receive three differenttypes of garments, certain parts being removed in Figs.

2 and 8;

Fig. 4 shows the stretcher folded, with certain parts removed;

Fig. 5 is a detail showing how the garmentarm stretching attachment ismounted; and

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6, Fig. 5.

11 designates the two side, and 2 the in,-termediate,longitudinalmembers. These are 23.3 connected at their endportions by the folding and collapsible links, each such link consistingof two link elements 4 respectively pivoted to the members andoverlapping each other, their overlapping portions being longi- 2Otudinally slotted, as at 5, and receiving in their slots a screw 6 whichis mounted in the intermediate member 2 and has a nut 'Z, the screw andnut forming a clamping means. So much is known in the art and forms the25 body structure of the improved stretcher.

The stretching is usually accomplished by inserting the structure in thearticle partially collapsed and then forcing the intermediate memberlengthwise to cause spacing of the members 1, after which the membersare se- 1929. Serial No. 361,556.

cured by the clamping means. The members 1 and 2 and the links mayassume various positions, as indicated for example by Figs. 1, 2 and 3,for the transverse stretching of garments of various forms and sizes,for instance, a sweater body in Fig. 1, a trousers leg in Fig. 2 (wherethe lower link is shown removed for that purpose) or a childs cap,fitting over the top of the stretcher, in Fig. 3.

It is occasionally desirable that the memher 2 should permit the foldingpoint 6 of one link to move toward or from the folding point 6 of theother; for instance, assume the upper link is to have a certain degreeof flexure and a certain spread to suit a givenshoulder form then ifpoints 6 and 6 were fixed with respect to 2 the spread of the lowerlink, to suit extreme hip measures, would be limited by member 2notpermitting the lower link to be fully straightened. Wherefore Iprovide a slot 8 in member 2 receiving, say, the the upper clampingmeans (3.

As so far described the stretcher is only adapted for exertingstretching strain transversely of the members 1 and 2. In manyinstances, for example, in stretching a sweater, the garment requires tobe stretched longitudinally of said members; Garments, of course vary inlength and occasionally also a garment might have a lower edge which isnot perpendicular to its length; again a garment may become distorted sothat in one line its length is greater than in another. I thereforeprovide the cross-bar 9 and, having also provided a longitudinal slot 10in themember 2, I arrange therein a screw-andnut clamping means 11 likethat already described and which carries the cross-bar, as by the screwpenetrating the latter; this bar has means to attach the garmentthereto, as a longitudinal row of hooks 12. The bar can be set in theslot at any elevation and in any such angular relation to the members 1and 2 as the circumstances require upon releasing and then retighteningthe means 11.

It will be noted that the ends of the upper link are pivoted to theextreme ends of the members 1 l so that the angle formed will be devoidof any projection that would exist M; to

if the link were attached to said members short of their said ends andin many cases distort the garment when being longitudinally stretched.

For certain stretching, as of the sleeves of a garment, I provide thestretching form shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 6. On the pivot 14 connectingthe upper link with the members 1 is pivoted a loop 15 in the form of ametallic strip rebent on itself so as to provide an eye 15a the hole oreye proper of which extends transversely of the pivot. This removablyreceives the downwardly bent oif end 16a of a flexible heavy wire form16 rebent between its ends and having its other end 163) bent off atright angles to the end 16a. End 16?) is adapted to be received by anyof a row of holes 17 formed in the adjoining member 1 lengthwise thereofand successively spaced from the loop. The effective width. of this formmay be varied to suit the sleeve or other part to be stretched therebyby shifting end 166 to one or the other of the holes. This form, whichis reliably held in place when its ends are formed and held in themanner described, may be readily removed.

"When a garment like a sweater, for example, is stretched the shoulderportions rest on the top link, with the neck around the intersection ofits elements and the garment lower down, as at the bottom, is engagedwith the hooks of bar 9, the stretching lengthwise of the members 1 and2 thus taking place between the link and said bar. If the garment is asmall one, like a childs cap, the bar 9 and its clamping means can bedetached and placed higher, as shown in Fig. 3, where the clamping meansis shown engaged with one of the slots of the upper link 4-.

Fig. 4 shows the stretcher in collapsed state, ready for shipping, atwhich time the forms 16 are preferably removed and packed with it,though if their ends 166 are disconnected they may be folded into smallcompass with the rest of the stretcher.

Having thus fully described by invention what I claim is:

1. A garment stretcher including a body structure and a rebent wirestretching form having its ends bent off at right angles to each other,the body structure having a hole receiving one of said ends and in whichit is held substantially fixed and also holes successively spaced fromthe first hole and any one of which is adapted to receive and hold theother of said ends.

2. A garment stretcher including longitudinal members, connecting meanspivotally connected to them, a loop arranged on the pivot between saidmeans and one member and a rebent flexible form having one end engagedin the loop, said member having means to attach the other end of theform thereto at points successively spaced from the loop.

3. A garment stretcher including a body structure comprisinglongitudinal members arranged in substantially the same plane and meansfor adjustably securing them in variously spaced relations to eachother, a pivoting device adjustable lengthwise of said members andclamped to one of them, and a crossbar pivoted substantially at a pointmidway its length on said device and pivotally movable in a planesubstantially parallel with the first plane,- said cross-bar havingmeans both sides of its pivot to which to attach a garment and thegarment being also adapted to be attached to a part of the bodystructure removed from the cross-bar lengthwise of said members.

4. A garment stretcher including a body structure comprising threelongitudinal members arranged in substantially the same plane and meansfor adj ustably securing them in variously spaced relations to eachother, a pivoting device adjustable lengthwise of said members andclamped to the intermediate one of them, and a cross-bar pivotedsubstantially at a point midway its length on said device and pivotallymovable in a plane substantially parallel with the first plane, saidcross-bar having means both sides of its pivot to which to attach agarment and the garment being also adapted to be attached to a part ofthe body structure removed from the cross-bar lengthwise of saidmembers.

5. A garment hanger comprising a pair of overlapping link elements,means on which each such element is adjustable lengthwise of-itself andalso is capable of pivotal movement, longitudinal members having theirextreme corresponding ends pivoted to said elements to permit them toswing, and arm forms outstanding from the longitudinal members andadjustable thereon independently of the adjustment of the link elements.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

LOUISE W. PEEBLES.

